Jim Edmonds made sure his exit from the St. Louis Cardinals was anything but subtle. FanDuel Sports Network, the Cardinals’ television partner, confirmed that Edmonds won’t be returning to their TV broadcast team next season and will no longer be involved in their broadcasts.
Following news of his departure, Edmonds appeared on ESPN 101’s Morning After, where he openly discussed his reasons for leaving, as well as his frustrations with both the Cardinals organization and baseball in general. “This winter, I told my wife a couple of months ago, ‘I don’t think I’m going to do it anymore. I’m done,’” he expressed. “… I said, ‘I’m done; I don’t want to do it anymore.’ I can’t imagine going to spring training. I started thinking about what Matt Holliday said when he was going to coach, and he woke up one day thinking, ‘Man, spring training’s four weeks away; I can’t do it.’” That encapsulated how Edmonds felt, and his growing disinterest in returning to the sport had been brewing for some time.
Furthermore, a revealing phone call from his boss confirmed his decision. “It’s not as much fun being around the stadium anymore,” Edmonds elaborated. “My boss called me the other day, and when I didn’t answer, I called him back the next day. I said, ‘Hey, Larry, the reason I didn’t answer was that I really didn’t know what to say about this year — I’m not really sure I’m going to come back. I’m pretty sure that I’m done working.’” It seems the Cardinals were also uncertain about bringing him back, making Edmonds’ decision easier.
“It was pretty much perfect, and it made me really happy about my decision,” he reflected. “I probably hung on a year or two too long. I tried to toe the line, saying the right thing and doing the right thing. I’m tired of that sh*t and of listening to critics and guessing whether I’m doing the right thing. I just had enough.” Known for his candid opinions, Edmonds was both loved and controversial among fans. Last season, his comments about Christopher Morel’s home run celebration drew criticism, as did remarks regarding Native American team names in 2023.
The exit from FanDuel Sports Network marks Edmonds’ second departure from television in recent years. He previously appeared on The Real Housewives of Orange County, which featured his ex-wife Meghan King; they divorced in 2021. “It’s total chaos. People are working every day; they don’t know where they’re supposed to be,” Edmonds described. “Can’t get mics to work, TV doesn’t work, replay doesn’t work. The game is fast; there’s no time to talk. They don’t need two people in the booth. It’s just commercial after commercial… It’s not the same anymore, and this has definitely affected the enjoyment of it all.”
After some diversions, Edmonds returned to the topic of spring training, though it wasn’t the sole reason behind his decision. “I haven’t gone to spring training in the last couple of years; it’s not fun anymore,” he noted. “They don’t make you feel wanted around the stadium… Somehow, it’s just not the same. It’s not the same organization. It’s not fun to be around.”
